April 2022
29 April - Mark Rylance calls out Tory arts cuts in new Jerusalem programme
The actor, who is reprising his role in Jez Butterworth’s celebrated play, points out that leading politicians’ school Eton has extensive theatre facilities
28 April - ENO Breathe improves quality of life for long Covid sufferers, trial finds
English National Opera’s well-being programme for people suffering from long Covid has been found to reduce breathlessness and improve participants’ quality of life.
28 April - Local election candidates urged to pledge support for the arts
Local election candidates are being called on to oppose budget cuts and provide free space for creatives in a series of demands from Equity.
27 April - Michaela Hunte: 'A safe, supportive space for emerging artists to nurture their passion is so necessary'
The mental health champion at Creative Youth tells John Byrne about the importance of well-being and offers her advice for students and graduates
25 April - Theatre should be concerned by the cancellation of The Family Sex Show
The cancellation of ThisEgg’s production has the potential to limit further what is made and seen on UK stages, says Lyn Gardner
21 April - ‘Forgotten how to behave’: comics say audiences more abusive post-lockdown
Comedians such as Nish Kumar say they have noticed a change since crowds have returned to clubs.
21 April - Spotlight offers free membership to Ukrainian performers
Spotlight is offering free membership to Ukrainian performers and casting professionals arriving in the UK.
21 April - Let’s get messy: why UK theatre should loosen up and embrace chaos
After a tough couple of years, it’s understandable why UK theatre might crave stability. But mess can make for thrilling theatre, says Natasha Tripney – while polish and beauty have their uses, there are benefits to deviating from the norm
20 April -Trucking stopgap to save UK tour legs
The temporary allowance will ease post-Brexit restrictions on touring, DfT says, but a better long-term solution remains elusive.
20 April - The RSC’s open call for directors is a potential game-changer
Late last week, something pretty amazing happened: the Royal Shakespeare Company advertised a job. But it wasn’t any job. Advertised via the OpenHire mailing list and the RSC’s website, it was an open call seeking a director to stage a Shakespeare revival at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in March 2023, which will then go on a national tour to eight partner venues.
18 April - Charity Commission investigates actors’ fund over governance
A charity that supports actors who are experiencing hardship due to old age, injury or illness is under investigation over concerns about its governance.
15 April - Broadway extends mask requirement through May 31, vaccination will be up to theaters
Broadway theaters will keep mask requirements for audience members through at least May 31, but will soon leave vaccination checks up to the theater owners, the Broadway League announced Friday.
13 April - Make theatres safe for vulnerable people
Kate Boulton feels shut out of performances where there is no mask-wearing due to Covid concerns. Plus a letter from Anthony Lawton
13 April - Northampton's Royal and Derngate launches 'people's panel' to bring greater diversity to the stage
It is hoped that new perspectives will make the productions more accessible to groups usually underrepresented
11 April - Eleanor Lloyd: Theatre is resilient but remains extremely fragile
Society of London Theatre president Eleanor Lloyd has warned that the theatre industry remains “extremely fragile”, as she used her address at this year’s Olivier Awards to reflect on the “total clusterfuck” that live theatre experienced during the pandemic.
11 April - Time for change: working freelance in creativity and culture
As we launch the Freelance : Futures symposium to discuss how we improve the support for and position of individuals working in creativity and culture, our Chief Executive Darren Henley explains why the time is now and the role we all have to play in bringing about change.
11 April - Theatre is facing a perfect storm – weathering it will take artistic and financial vision
Theatres are open and welcoming audiences, and that’s brilliant, particularly for the commercial sector that is entirely dependent on ticket sales.
11 April - Liz Carr calls for theatres to host facemask-only performances
Actress Liz Carr has suggested theatres consider hosting separate performances of shows for audiences who still want to wear facemasks or socially distance.
08 April - ALRA closure 'traumatic', say freelancers claiming thousands in unpaid fees
Freelancers who had been engaged with ALRA have spoken of the “traumatic” impact of the drama school’s closure, while two former permanent staff members have claimed they were told to “keep recruiting” despite raising concerns about the school’s finances with senior management.
07 April - Groundbreaking principles established for digital broadcast of stage plays
WGGB has agreed a groundbreaking set of principles to govern the digital broadcasts of stage plays by the Royal Court, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
06 April - ALRA's closure is a symptom of a wider crisis in drama training
Monday’s simultaneous closure of the London and Wigan campuses of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts came as a shock. Students and staff were blindsided by the announcement and are now left with an anxious few weeks, even months, scrambling to secure places and jobs at other institutions.
06 April - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company suffered £28.1m losses in 2021, accounts reveal
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Theatres suffered pre-tax losses of £28.1 million in 12 months to June 2021, with box office revenues down 97% on the same period the year before.
05 April - Did the Culture Recovery Fund actually work?
While large institutions benefited, individuals and small venues suffered
04 April - Ticketing experts: Theatre is recovering 'remarkably quickly', but audiences are still cautious
Ticketing and audience experts David Brownlee, David Reece and Oliver Mantell presented their findings at The Stage’s Future of Theatre conference, saying the UK is leading the way in terms of recovery, but attitudes to theatre attendance are still complex when it comes to assessing risk
04 April - We should follow Italy’s example and give everyone turning 18 a £500 culture bonus
An egalitarian culture bonus could change the narrative that art is a middle-class pursuit, and place potential and creativity in the hands of our young people
04 April - Michelle Dickson and Neil Darlison: 'Theatres that embedded themselves in their communities during the pandemic have come out stronger'
Arts Council England has warned that if it is not able to redistribute £8 million worth of funding out of London by encouraging National Portfolio Organisations to relocate, it will have to make further cuts to the capital.
04 April - ALRA closure: Rose Bruford offers places to all students
Students at ALRA, which has announced its sudden closure, are being offered places at Rose Bruford College to continue their drama school training.
04 April - Students saved after ALRA drama school closes suddenly
The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) announced this morning, without warning, that it would close – leaving 284 students without further education.
04 April - ALRA: Students left heartbroken as drama school closes down without warning
Students at a London drama school that trained stars including Miranda Hart and Denise Gough say they are “heartbroken” after it closed down saying it was no longer “financially viable”.
04 April - Mask and vaccines required on Broadway through April 30, League says
Broadway theaters will continue to require proof of vaccination and masks for theatergoers through April 30, 2022.
The Broadway League delayed making any decisions on future protocols until April 15.
01 April - Phantom brought from China to tour Europe because of Brexit costs
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatre company has brought a production of The Phantom of the Opera from China to tour Europe because Brexit had made it too complicated and expensive for the British production to do so, MPs have been told.